Sydney Rugby controls Sydney and somehow NSW Country overlaps and manages the rest. Six organisations managing the one asset!

Collectively the combined fiefdoms comprising NSW rugby Administration have ignored Western Sydney – the biggest rugby nursery in Australia and home of Kurtley Beale! And while other codes have poured their resources in Western Sydney, Rugby AU has cried poor.

Penrith rugby existence has been one of marginalisation and no doubt travelling west of Parramatta has grated on the eastern suburb and north shore fiefdoms that control the game.

The player resource pool was not under its control and was underfunded by Rugby AU. An amazing marketing opportunity was lost when Israel Folau joined the Waratahs – now Israel will never play a Shute Shield match. Just imagine the marketing benefits if Israel had aligned with Penrith (instead of with the ultimate player cherry pickers – Sydney Uni).

It can only be hoped that Twiggy Forrest reads this article and establishes a Western Sydney franchise for his competition, as it is clear that those in charge of rugby right now are not interested.